8 fatalities

C-47 Crash on Mindoro Island During Mail Run (44-77767)

Mindoro Island, PhilippinesFlight

On July 17, 1945, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 44-77767) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Mindoro Island, Philippines in flight. 8 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A military transport aircraft crashed into a mountain in the Philippines while flying from Puerto Princesa to Nichols AFB, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board.

What happened

The flight originated at Puerto Princesa and was scheduled to arrive at Nichols Air Force Base near Manila. The aircraft was carrying mail and freight when it departed under adverse weather conditions. These conditions included heavy rainfall, low visibility, low cloud ceilings, and winds reaching up to 20 knots.

Approximately one hour and twenty minutes after takeoff, the crew communicated their estimated time of arrival to ground control. This transmission marked the final radio contact with the aircraft. Subsequently, the plane impacted the slope of a mountain situated in the northwest region of Mindoro Island.

Search and recovery efforts located the wreckage several days after the incident. All eight individuals on board perished in the accident. The crew consisted of seven military personnel and one civilian or additional staff member, though specific roles beyond their ranks are not detailed in the immediate crash report context provided.